The Prison Guard's Path to Liberation

This is a record of an interview with Yu Jinzhong, a spirit who served as a prison guard in the hells and sought deliverance at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. He now aspires to rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. This account reflects upon his life and his subsequent service in the underworld. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Faxi, on August 21, 2022.

Yu Jinzhong speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I wish to express my deepest gratitude to Practitioner Su for his great compassionate vow, which has allowed us the rare opportunity to seek rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss today. This is a once-in-a-thousand-years opportunity, and we all know that we must cherish it dearly. On behalf of all the prison guards and the sentient beings with karmic affinity, I bow in gratitude to the Buddha and to Practitioner Su. Namo Amituofo.

I am Yu Jinzhong, and today I would like to share my story with all of you. In my past life, I was not a person of great fortune; my life was filled with immense difficulty. Yet, my heart was never bitter. I learned to find things within my own life to cherish and for which to be grateful. I focused on what I possessed rather than dwelling on what I lacked. I learned to be content with the present moment, and I stopped desperately chasing after things that were never meant to be mine."

A Life Forged in Poverty

"I am truly happy to be here today to share my experiences with you all, and I deeply cherish the fact that I have come to know this place. Having encountered the magnificent Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, others may not fully grasp its significance, but I can see it clearly: this is truly a pure and dignified Pure Land, a sacred ground where all sentient beings can find the path to rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.

It was only after listening to the Dharma talks given by Practitioner Su that I truly began to change myself. It was then that I realised just how many problems I still carried. Because of my past ignorance, I wandered through the cycle of rebirth for so many years. It was not until I heard the Dharma talks of Practitioner Su that I finally awakened. I felt such profound shame, yet at the same time, I am filled with gratitude for the great vow and practice of Practitioner Su.

I was born in the countryside and lived in a state of extreme poverty. My parents passed away when I was very young, leaving me to rely on my eldest sister. She was twenty-one years my senior, so from a very young age, she took on the role of a mother, raising me with all her heart. My sister never married; she lived a life of immense hardship. She was a diligent and hardworking woman who dedicated her entire life to our family, never complaining, no matter how much she suffered. I am eternally grateful to my eldest sister. Without her, I would not be the person I am today, nor would I have achieved anything in my life."

The Power of Changing One's Mindset

"I would not dare to claim that I possess any great ability, for I am merely an ordinary person. However, I do have a heart that refuses to be ordinary. I know that one must strive in everything they do and that life requires one to move forward with their full strength.

When I was a child, our living conditions were dire. We often went without meals, and there were many times when I was so hungry that I had to drink water mixed with mud just to survive. There was simply no other choice. That was the fate I was dealt at the time.

Even though the fate of my childhood was bitter, I never abandoned hope. I knew I had to change myself. It is not easy to change one's external environment, and I certainly could not suddenly become a wealthy person living a life of luxury. If I had continued to harbour such thoughts, that would have been the true source of my suffering, because the inability to obtain those things would only lead to more pain.

Life in this world is truly filled with suffering. But if one only perceives the suffering, then they will be trapped by it, unable to break through the bitterness of their fate. A person's mindset is of the utmost importance. It depends on how one views their own life and whether, in the midst of suffering, they can learn to shift their perspective and transform their circumstances.

Changing oneself is a vital task. When every individual learns to change themselves, they can avoid so much unnecessary pain and torment. As long as one knows how to adjust, learn, and elevate themselves, they can break through their current situation, change their destiny, and regain control of their life."

From the Hells to the Dharma

"In life, one should not fear a difficult destiny or a life of hardship. What is most to be feared is a person who wallows in self-pity. Those who spend their days sighing and complaining will never achieve anything. A successful person is one who knows how to focus on their own growth and transformation in the present moment, rather than just obsessing over their own feelings and experiences without learning from them. Those who lack the wisdom to break through the limitations of their life will ultimately continue to revolve within their own suffering, unable to escape.

Although my life was difficult from a young age, I never forgot to remain positive. I knew that my mindset had to be right so that I would not forget what I already possessed, rather than only seeing what I lacked. By being grateful for everything I have now, I no longer feel overwhelmed by negative emotions. I am truly living in a state of gratitude, which has been instrumental in helping me overcome my fate, as it has taught me to grow and to change myself.

I carved out a path for myself in this life. I did not rely on others; by changing myself, I was able to live well. After I broke through my own limitations, I began to reach out and help others. I once donated my life savings to a kindergarten, hoping to help more children grow up in better conditions, receive a better education, and move toward a brighter future. Caring for children is the most direct way to improve education, as every child is a pillar of the future society. If the growth and education of children can be successful, it will be of great benefit to the future of society.

I do not dare to say that I have made a great contribution in this life; I have only done my best to help others while simultaneously elevating myself."

A Final Opportunity for Liberation

"I passed away at the age of sixty-five. When I left this world, my heart was relatively free of attachments, but in my final thoughts, I recalled the bitter days of my past. The images of my sister and me relying on each other constantly surfaced; perhaps these were the memories that sustained me throughout my life. Because of these memories, when I died and entered the spiritual space, it felt as though I had returned to the memories of my childhood. My spirit drifted along a dark path until I finally stopped before the court of King Yama. It was only then that I realised I had died.

King Yama reviewed my life and felt that I had truly helped people change their thoughts for the better. Because I had helped many people during my life, he assigned me to the hells to teach the Dharma to the beings there. I happily accepted this task, as I have always enjoyed helping others.

I spent about five years teaching in the hells until I recently heard the voice of Practitioner Su giving a Dharma talk. The content was incredibly inspiring. I sat quietly and listened to it many times, and I am so grateful to Practitioner Su for helping me wake up. After listening to the Dharma talks, I finally understood that life is about seeking liberation. I began to examine myself and realised that I still carried many internal habits and that my desire for liberation was not yet strong enough.

I am deeply grateful to Practitioner Su for his words, which awakened me from my dream. Now, I know that I must let go of everything. I seek liberation, and I am currently engaged in diligent practice. I am so thankful to Practitioner Su for giving us such a wonderful opportunity to be liberated and reborn in the Pure Land. I will seize this chance and continue to break through my own limitations.

On behalf of all the prison guards and the sentient beings with karmic affinity, I bow in gratitude to the Buddha and to Practitioner Su. Namo Amituofo.

Yu Jinzhong, with palms joined."